JONES BROUGHT UP TO COACH IN PADRES BULLPEN
COACH CALLED UP TO SPELL AILING AKERFELDS

With the hospitalization of Darrel Akerfelds in his fight against pancreatic cancer, Jimmy Jones has been elevated from the staff in Double-A San Antonio to serve as bullpen coach for the Padres, at least on an interim basis.

“He’s filling in for Ak,” manager Bud Black said before Wednesday’s game. “We’d hoped this day wouldn’t come where we’d have to bring somebody for Ak, but where Ak is right now, it just makes sense to bring Jimmy here to help.”

In the absence of Akerfelds, the bullpen coaching duties had been shared by pitching coach Darren Balsley and bullpen catcher Justin Hatcher. Akerfelds is the senior member of the Padres coaching staff, playing a major role in the bullpen’s near-perennial status as a stalwart of the club, the second-best in baseball over his 11-year tenure.

Owing to the loss of closer Heath Bell to free agency and several injuries, the bullpen has undergone considerable, almost-continual revamping in 2012. Four of the team’s current relief pitchers — right-handers Brad Brach, Miles Mikolas, Dale Thayer and left-hander Alex Hinshaw — have been summoned from the minors to fill spots. Jones, himself a former No. 1 draft choice (third overall, 1982) of the Padres, is a Texan who’s been San Antonio’s pitching coach the past two seasons.

“The main aspect is, I had a couple of these guys the last few years,” said Jones. “I also know some of the guys who might be called up or could be called up, so I think that was the main thing, the familiarity with the guys.”

Akerfelds, who was diagnosed with one of the most lethal forms of cancer in December 2010, shuttled between spring training in Arizona and San Diego for treatment. He last was with the club for mid-April games in Los Angeles.

“From the day he’s been diagnosed, he’s been battling this head-on with a great deal of will, determination, character,” said Black. “For a lot of us, it’s been inspirational to watch him go through this, a very tough cancer. ... He’s a great coach and he’s missed.”

Tough call for Luebke

Confirmation of the degree of damage to left-handed starter Cory Luebke’s pitching elbow by esteemed orthopedic surgeon Dr. Lewis Yocum basically has put the ball back in the court of Luebke, who’s trying to decide whether to give the ligament six weeks to improve on its own or have Tommy John surgery, the latter of which would sideline the southpaw for a year. Luebke’s concern is that if he gives it six or seven weeks to recover without an operation and the elbow doesn’t respond, then he will have expanded the amount of time he’ll be out of commission by virtue of ligament-replacement surgery.

“It’s just scary for me, because that would be six weeks wasted,” said Luebke, 27. “I’m trying to weigh the options and make the right decision… a tough decision. We’re getting closer to it.”

Luebke said he’s been consulting with family, doctors and other players who’ve gone through similar arm problems.

“The doctors said they almost wish I’d torn it all the way so they could operate tomorrow and I’d be ready by next season,” said Luebke. “But it’s not that clear-cut case. That’s the frustrating part.”

Quentin gets a shot

Likewise, the availability of left-fielder Carlos Quentin has gotten murkier. Yet to play his first game with the Padres, Quentin had a cortisone injection Tuesday on his post-surgical left knee, which acted up again on him during rehab assignments in Lake Elsinore last week.

“He’s been slowed down,” said Black, adding: “(Today), you could see him doing some baseball activities. From that point, we will re-evaluate his schedule as far as playing. We’re just letting the cortisone injection take its course.”